LAFC's Franco Escobar: Being alone has been the hardest thing for me

LOS ANGELES — After missing three straight games due to a head injury, LAFC defender Franco Escobar made his return to the field on Decision Day, entering in the 78th minute in replacement of Ryan Hollingshead.

Two minutes later, in a year where injuries have haunted Escobar, the Argentinian right back was down on the ground again, after catching an elbow to the face and awkwardly landing on his left knee — in what looked to be the latest cruel blow in a season full of them.

Walking gingerly off the field in clear frustration, Escobar underwent a few tests on the sideline by the Black & Gold medical staff. Cleared for action after a few minutes and eager to get back on the field, Escobar returned to the pitch and finished the game.

After the match, Escobar told me it was the elbow to the face that caused him the most pain but also confirmed, "It was all good."

Escobar came to LAFC last December from Atlanta United in exchange for up to $600,000 in General Allocation Money, including a guaranteed $250,000 in GAM in 2022. Since then, he's strived to prove himself worthy of that investment, fighting through injury-related adversity. But Escobar is healthy now, and he's the only player on his new club who has been where his team wants to go: Winning MLS Cup.

In an exclusive interview with The Striker, Escobar — a surprising hero of the 2018 MLS Cup for Atlanta United — opened up about his arrival at LAFC, the challenges of dealing with injuries, and the secret to success in the playoffs.

Joining LAFC

During the offseason, Atlanta United and LAFC agreed to Escobar's transfer to Los Angeles. LAFC had struggled filling the right back position since the departure of Steven Beitashour, and found Escobar to be a physical and versatile defender who brought a level of toughness that lacked along the backline in previous years.

"I found out about my move to LA when I was still in season with Newell's," Escobar recalled. "However, I am glad it happened because if it wasn’t going to be Atlanta, LAFC was the team I wanted to join. When it became official, I was very happy but also nervous because I was going to be living in a new city again."

Escobar lived in Atlanta for three years, becoming attached to the city over time. When he was loaned to Newell's in Argentina, he felt comfortable being back in his hometown. Now in Los Angeles, Escobar has started a new life with huge ambitions.

"When I returned to Newell’s, it was a place I was familiar with because I grew up there," said Escobar. "Coming to LAFC was a new challenge because I was joining a team that missed the playoffs last season, but who always fights for titles. When I arrived, I could already tell that the team was being built to win and compete for MLS Cup."

LAFC was always at the top of the list of clubs that Escobar wanted to play for in MLS. 

"The team’s ambition for success and offensive style of play was something that attracted me to come here," acknowledged Escobar.

At the beginning of the season, the Black & Gold had a very different roster than the one that it currently has. Kim Moon-Hwan and Brian Rodriguez were sold, Doneil Henry was waived, Francisco Ginella and Mamadou Fall were loaned out, and Danny Musovski and Ismael Tajouri-Sharadi were both traded. 

During the summer transfer window, LAFC acquired international stars Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini, designated player Denis Bouanga, former FC Barcelona player Cristian Tello, and Ecuador international Sebastian Mendez. 

That many changes throughout a season can be disruptive for a team's chemistry and provide inconsistent performances on the field. But as Escobar tells it, the subtraction and addition of players only multiplied its success. 

"At the beginning of the season, we already had a very competitive team with very good players," said Escobar. Then, the summer acquisitions really helped raise the level of the team even higher. Players like Giorgio, Gareth, Cristian, and Denis gave the team that extra quality and experience that allowed us to win the Supporters’ Shield, and we are very confident we can finish the year winning it all."

 Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez/ USA Today Sports Images

Tough times on and off the field

2022 wasn't kind to Escobar from an injury standpoint. The 27-year-old defender was limited to only 19 appearances out of a possible 34.

Because he hasn't been able to consistently be on the field with his teammates this season, Escobar admits that it's been the most challenging one of his professional soccer career, and not just because of the injuries.

"I am alone here [in LA]," stated Escobar. "I had injuries in Atlanta, but I was still with my [now] ex-girlfriend, who helped me get through those tough times. I also suffered two fractures last season at Newell’s but I was in Rosario with my family and friends. This year, I’ve had to deal with this [injuries] alone and that’s been the most difficult part about it. It's not so much the injuries themselves because those could happen at any time, it's more about being alone in certain moments. That was tough for me. Especially when the team traveled, and I had to train by myself and then go home while my teammates were away."

Escobar got hurt in the second game of the season, forcing him to be sidelined for seven weeks. When he came back, he got hurt again within a month and missed an additional five weeks of action. Escobar's misfortunes continued when he contracted COVID-19 one day prior to El Trafico in July, a game Escobar would sit out. 

"This can't be happening," said Escobar about getting COVID-19. "I had never gotten COVID in my life and when I do, it happens now [hours before the derby against the Galaxy]."

Once fully healthy, Escobar made nine consecutive appearances, including seven starts. However, the worst was yet to come. Escobar suffered a head injury in a match against Houston on Aug. 31, which forced him to exit the game and miss the following match.

"I felt very dizzy and because I had experienced something similar in the past, I knew I was going to miss some time if I did not recover quickly," remembers Escobar about what was going through his mind as he was coming off the field against the Dynamo.

"I felt frustrated because I was playing well in the game and because it [head injury] was so unexpected."

 Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez/ USA Today Sports Images

Dealing with injuries

After missing only one match, Escobar was cleared for action and re-joined the team on a five-day road trip that included games in Dallas and Minnesota. An unforeseen circumstance forced Escobar to enter the game against FC Dallas after a red card to Ryan Hollingshead in the 10th minute left LAFC with one man down.

MLS uses a concussion protocol that every player has to go through after suffering a head injury. Since Escobar was on the game-day roster against Dallas, that means he passed the tests provided by LAFC's medical staff and was declared fit and ready to play. An LAFC spokesperson confirmed that the team's coaching staff will not put a player on the field if they interpret the player is not ready to play.

"I really just wanted to be with the guys because they were going away for five days on two away games," noted Escobar. "I don't know if I was at 100 percent," he assessed, "but I wanted to be with them."

After the final whistle blew in Dallas, Escobar described feeling "done for." 

During the match, Escobar took a hit to the eye with the ball but his desire to help the team allowed him to finish the game.

"Perhaps playing that game affected my recovery a bit, but there was no way I was going to leave that match," said Escobar.

 Photo credit: Jerome Miron/ USA Today Sports Images

Escobar was sidelined for a month while he recovered from the head injury and struggled with the uncertainty of not knowing when he would be able to step on the field again.

"It was the most difficult moment for me because the final stretch of the season was approaching, and a head injury is one you can’t really do anything about," said Escobar. "It all depends on how you feel on a day-to-day basis and there’s no real timeline for return."

Living alone in Los Angeles has made it harder for him to cope with the rehab process of injuries, but Escobar has found a support group among his teammates.

"It made it more difficult when I would get home and no one was there," said Escobar. "I started to overthink everything. Of course, my teammates were there for me, but I couldn't be with the team 24 hours a day. In the morning during training, hanging out and talking with them helped me temporarily forget about the injury. But as soon as I got home, there would be days when I still didn't feel well and as time kept going by, I became more frustrated because I couldn't play."

Playing right back 

While in Atlanta, Escobar consolidated himself as a starter and increased his role as a center back over the years, playing as much as 70% of the games in the 2020 season as a central defender in a three-man backline. Under Steve Cherundolo, LAFC plays a different system so Escobar has had to adjust to playing as an outside back.

However, Escobar's versatility has allowed that transition to go smoother with the Black & Gold.

"I feel comfortable with both [positions]," said Escobar. "Obviously, I played center back in a three-man backline with Atlanta in 2019 and 2020 and I felt comfortable because that’s my natural position. However, I have adapted well to the right-back position and at this moment, whether I am playing as a center-back in a three-man backline or as a right back in a four-man backline, it’s all the same to me."

The internal competition with Hollingshead at the right back position has helped both players push each other for minutes, something that has benefited the team tremendously. Hollingshead tied a personal career-high of six goals scored and led the league in scoring amongst defenders. 

Although the minutes have been shared when both are healthy, Escobar appreciates the battle for the starting job at right back.

"Having Ryan has been great because of the competition, and on top of that, every time he plays he scores goals," said Escobar. It forces me to be at my best. I also try to make it difficult for the coach and force Ryan to be at his best by giving it my all in every training session and in every game. Obviously, we all want to play and when I don't, it’s frustrating. However, Steve [Cherundolo] has done a great job of giving everyone minutes and has made all of us feel like an important part of this team."

Ending the (regular) season on a high note

With Atlanta, Escobar won the 2018 MLS Cup and the 2019 U.S. Open Cup but was never able to win the Supporters' Shield with his former club. On October 2nd, LAFC clinched its second-ever Shield with a victory over the Portland Timbers on the road. 

"It was the only title that I was missing to win in MLS because with Atlanta, I did not win the Supporters’ Shield in the three years I was with them," said Escobar.

Due to still being on the mend, Escobar was not able to travel with the team but that did not stop him from being part of the celebration as he tuned in on the television.

"I saw the game [against Portland] at home," said Escobar. "I was going crazy when the referee didn’t call the foul on Mahala (laughs). But then, Denis made a spectacular play and we won. I sent text messages to my teammates to congratulate them, and I received some as well from family and friends. Then at night, I waited for the team to arrive, and we celebrated with a nice dinner."

Showing the way to MLS Cup?

Escobar returned to full training with the team last week and made a 12-minute cameo appearance in the 1-0 loss at home to Nashville in the final match of the regular season.

"I hope nothing else happens to me," joked Escobar in reference to his injury-riddled season.

The Argentine is ready for the start of the playoffs and hopes to help LAFC reach the MLS Cup final. Although the club is only three wins away from its first-ever championship, Escobar knows there can't be any hiccups.

"We are so close to reaching our main objective," said Escobar. "However, we can’t relax now because a poor stretch of 15 minutes in the playoffs can leave us out of the whole thing after a spectacular season."

 Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio/ USA Today Sports Images

Escobar is the only player on the current LAFC roster with MLS Cup experience. In 2018, Escobar helped Atlanta United lift its first-ever league title by scoring a goal in the final against the Portland Timbers. Changes have come to playoff formatting since then, but Escobar believes the Black & Gold's experienced players can make a difference in the postseason.

"When I was in Atlanta, the playoffs were still played as a two-legged aggregate series, which is very different from a one-off game like it is now," said Escobar. "Back then, you could have a bad game but still have time to turn things around in the return leg. Now, if you have a bad game in the playoffs, you are out. 

"We have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and that’s something we must take advantage of," he added. "I may be the only one that has won MLS Cup [on the team] but we have so many players on our roster with plenty of experience like Giorgio, Gareth, and Cristian that have won other trophies in Europe and played with their national teams, so that gives our team confidence as well. I think having them helps in the pressure moments and calms down the nerves."

The 2022 Supporters' Shield winners have the odds stacked against them in a sense. Only one team since 2011, Toronto FC in 2017, has won both the Shield and MLS Cup in the same season. However, the Black & Gold get to host playoff matches throughout the season, and with one of the best home records in MLS this season, at 13-2-2, they'll be difficult to beat at the Banc. 

Stoppage time! 

Here are some bonus questions I asked, here in a simple Q&A format, before our conversation concluded:

The Striker: What does LAFC have to do to win MLS Cup?

Escobar: Play well and score more goals than the opponent (laughs). Teams are not going to come here [the Banc] and attack us because we have players that can finish them off on the counter. We are going to have to be patient and understand that the game lasts 90 minutes. We must be careful and not make mistakes like we sometimes did throughout the regular season. The margin for error is very small, so we must play well, maintain our focus, and have a little bit of luck.

The Striker: Is it MLS Cup or bust for LAFC?

Escobar: Perhaps from the outside looking in, not winning MLS Cup will be considered a failure but for us, one bad game in the playoffs will not take away the amazing season we had. We were the top seed in the league for 29 weeks, something that’s very difficult to maintain, and we hope to top it off by crowning ourselves as champions.

The Striker: What are your goals and aspirations in the short and long term in football?

Escobar: My dream will always be to play in Europe, but first, the priority is to win it all with LAFC. Then we will see if I stay or if I go [during the offseason], but the idea is for me to continue and come back next year. In 2023, we have CONCACAF Champions League and Leagues Cup, which are two very important tournaments to play in for the competition with Liga MX. If I can come back next season and fight for trophies again, I will.